contact into the future: Career Paths Beyond the Beaten Track

On May 27, 2026, the event brought students together with professionals from Sports, Culture & Event Management for another edition of Contact into the Future, held in the grand hall of FH Kufstein Tirol. At the heart of the evening was an interactive panel discussion in which the speakers shared their career stories, talked openly about challenges and opportunities, and offered real-world insights into their day-to-day work.

"Contact into the Future showed just how valuable it is when students and working professionals can have an open conversation and learn from each other," said speaker Laura Jurcevic.

 An Evening of Diverse Perspectives

Once the speakers began introducing their job titles and career paths, it became clear that this evening was about more than industry knowledge - it was about real experiences and the decisions behind them. The speakers offered the audience practical insights and personal inspiration: the courage to forge your own path, stay curious, and actively build your network were recurring themes throughout the discussion.

The following experts shared their experiences on the panel:

• Friedrich Engeljähringer – CEO of Red Bull Austria
• Laura Jurcevic – Head of Cultural Outreach at the State of Upper Austria, Exhibitions & Events
• Viktoria Mall – Freelance Moderator & Event Manager, and CEO of Mind the Brain
• Maximilian Markschläger – Founder of URBAN AGENCY and working in Marketing, Advertising & Sponsorship at Wiener Städtische
• Sebastian Ochs – Head of Global Partnerships at Allianz SE
• Oliver Pero Bubalo – Founder of thenex Runclub and working in Marketing & Project Management at Soda Zitron

Together, they reinforced one key message: stay true to yourself, embrace new experiences, and take up space - because every impression you leave matters.

 Career Paths in the Real World: Rarely Go as Planned

The speakers made it clear that careers in sports, culture, and event management rarely follow a straight line and that's exactly what makes them exciting. Because opportunities can't always be planned, it pays off to take risks, show initiative, and sometimes choose the unconventional route. For the students in the room, it became tangible just how much curiosity and self-motivation can pay off in practice — and why following your own interests and investing in personal growth is just as important as professional skill-building.